- This news breaks: more to follow
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an effective cease-fire, as well as a cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure, after successful conversations in Saudi Arabia today, the White House said.
Both parties agreed separately to avoid military strikes on ships, the issue promoted by the Trump administration as primary importance to enable unhindered commercial shipping in the region.
In parallel statements, the White House said that every country agreed to guarantee safe navigation, to eliminate the use of violence and prevent the use of commercial ships for military purposes in the Black Sea. '
It also said that the US and Ukraine had agreed to develop measures for the implementation of a prohibition on strikes against energy facilities in both Ukraine and Russia, after both parties accused each other of breaking the ceases -the fire last week.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov added a corresponding statement that the final round of conversations in Riyad also focused on the release and return of prisoners and children.
He insisted that “no one wants more peace than Ukrainians, and our position remains fair, transparent and consistent.” But he added that the Ukrainian side 'emphasizes' that every Russian movement of military ships outside the eastern part of the Black Sea would be seen as a violation of the agreement.
“In this case, Ukraine will have the right to practice self -defense,” he wrote, attracting clear red lines for involvement.
“If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct question for President Trump,” said President Zensky reporters in Kiev. “If they violate, here is proof – we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons, etc.”
Vladimir Putin gives a speech during a ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow on March 25, 2025
Smoke waves from a residential building after a rocket attack in Sumy, Noordoost -Eoekraine, on March 24, 2025
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where conversations between Russia and us are held to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 24, March 24
The White House published two reads from the conversations, emphasizes the most important performance of both the Russian and Ukrainian perspectives.
The Russia-specific readout emphasized that the US would help 'access from Russia to the world market for the export of agricultural and artificial fertilizers, to restore lower maritime insurance costs and improve access to ports and payment systems for such transactions'.
The Ukraine-specific reading emphasized that the US is committed to reaching the exchanges of prisoners of war, the release of civil prisoners and the return of the Ukrainian children transferred with violence. “
The contemporary conversations followed a top between us and Russian representatives, also in Riyad, on Monday, aimed at the reduction of some of the most important differences in requirements between the warring parties.
Sergei Lavrov, who saw Russia's conversations with the US, said that the Kremlin was willing to conclude a new agreement on a cease -the fire at sea with Ukraine -subject to certain security guarantees.
“Given the sad experience of similarities with Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zenskyy and his team to do one and not the other,” Lavrov said in a muted insult to Ukraine.
